The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-07-15

"What sport have you had Jcremmy.
asked his sister, with n sad little SMILE Her
face had grown very sad Of late.
"Three ducks" he answered, shortly, 'ad.
vancing his powerful form out of the shad-
ows into the freight. "I came home just as
they were beginning to fly"
"You found it cold suppose said Mr..
Cardus, absently. They had been talking Of
Ernest, and he was still thinking of him.
"No, did not think Of the cold. l came
home because had an idea"
Both his hearers looked up surprised. Ideas
were not very common 10 Jeremy, or If they
were he kept them to himself
well jeremy" said Dorothy, inquiringly
swell, it is this. | cannot stand this about
Ernest any longer, and | am going to look
for him. II you don't give me the money"
he went ON, addressing Mr.. Cardus almost
hercely, 81 will work my way out. 1t is no
credit to me, he added; al lead a dogs life
while don't know where he is"
Dorothy flushed pale pink with pleasure
Rising she went up TO her great strong
brother, and standing on tptoe managed to
kiss him on the chin
THAT is like you, Jeremy, dear" she said,
softly.
Mr.. Cardus looked up too, and after his
fashion let his eyes wander round Jeremy
before he spoke.
you shall have as much money as you
like, jeremy" he said presently, land if you
bring Ernest back safe, | will leave you
42OOOO'-and he struck his hand down upon
his knee, an evidence of excitement which it
was unusual for him to display.
81 don't want your e2O,OOO-I want Err
nest" answered the young man grufily.
"No, ] know you don't. my lad know
you don't. But find him and keep him safe,
you shall have it. Money is not to be sneezed
at, let me tell you. | say keep him, for for
got you cannot bring him back till this ac-
cursed business has blown over. When will
you go''
"By the next mail, of course They leave
every Friday; l will not waste n day. To-
day is Saturday. I will sail next friday
"That is right; you shall go at once 1 will
give you check for $500 tomorrow, and
mind, Jeremy, you are not to spare money.
Ii he has gone to the Zambesi, you must fol-
low him. Never think of the money: will
think of that"
Jeremy soon made his preparations. The
consisted chiefly of rifles He was to
Dum's Ness early ON the Thursday. On
Wednesday afternoon it occurred to him Ii
he might as well tell Eva Ceswick that |.
was going in search of Ernest, and ask if she,
had any message. Jeremy was the ONLY
person, or thought that he was the only per-
son, in the secret of Ernest's affection for
Eva. Ernest had asked him to keep it secret,
and he had kept it as secret as the dead,
never breathing a word of it, even to his
sister.
1t was about o'clock on a windy March
afternoon when he set out for the Cottage.
On the edge Of the hamlet of Kesterwick.
,,,l, al, .n
three little novels, turning their naked faces
to the full fury of the sea blast He was
drawing near to these when he came to a stle
which gave passage over sod wall that ran
to the edge of the cliff, marking the limits of
the village common. As he approached the
stile the wind brought him the sound of
voices--a mans and woman's-engaged ap-
parently in angry dispute on the further side
Of the wall. Instead of getting over the stie,
he stepped to the right and looked over the
wall and saw the new clergyman, Mr.. Plow-
den, standing with his back toward him, and,
apparently very much against her will, hold
ing Eva Ceswick by the hand Jeremy was
too far off to overhear his words, but from his
voice it was clear that Plowden was talking
in an excited masterful tone. Just then Eva
turned her head little, and he did hear what
she said, her voice being so much clearer:
"No, Mr.. Plowden, MOI Let go my hand
All, why will you not take an answerf'
Just at that moment she succeeded in
wrenching her imprisoned hand from his
strong grasp, and without waiting for any
more words, set Off toward Kesterwick almost
at n run.
Jeremy was n man of slow mind, though
when once his mind was made up it was of a
singularly determined nature. At first he
dill ,ltitp "a LA IN hi
the scene, but when he did a great red flush
| spread over his honest face and the big grav
eyes sparkled dangerously Presently Mr..
Piowlen turned and saw him. Jeremy
noticed that the "sgu Of the cross" was re-
ma"kably visible on his forehead, and that
| hi, face wore an expression by no means
pleasant to behold-anything but Christian,
| IN short.
"Hullo!' he said to Jeremy; "what are you
| doing there"
before answering Jeremy put his hand on
the top of the sod wall, and, vaultng over,
walked s,raish' up to the clergyman
Il was watching YOU he said, looking him
straight in the eyes
"isNtert - an honorable employment;
eavcsdroppiug / think 1t is generally called. ii
Whatever had passed between Mr. Pow.
den and Eva Ceswick, 1t had clearly nov inn
| proved the formers temper.
"What do you meanm
90 mean what say.n
"Well, Mr.. Plowden, may as well tell you
what | mean; am not good at talking, but
| know that | shall be able to make you under.
stand. saw you just now assaulting Miss
| Ceswick.n
at is a lie'
"That is not a gentleman-lke word, Mr..
| plpvlpp lut oS nj NJ n
will overlook it.n Jeremy, after the danger.
GUS fashion Of the Anglo o-Saxon race, always
got wonderfully cool as a row thickened. Il
repeat that saw you holding her, notwith-
standing her struggles to get away
And what is that to you confound youf
said Mr. Plowden, shaking with fury and
raising thick stick he held in his hand in a
| suggestive manner.
Don't lose your temper, and you shall
hear. Miss Eva Ceswick is engaged to nv
friend, Ernest Kershaw, or something very
like it, and as he is not here to look after his
own interests must look after them for him "
"Ah, yes" answered Mr.. Plowden, with a
| CHASTITY smile, II have heard of that. The
| murderer, you meanf'
81 recommend you, Mr.. Plowden, in your
own interest, TO be little more careful in
your terms
"And supposing that there has been some
thing between your-your friendp
"Much better term, Nj Plowdenp
"And Miss Eva Ceswick, what, l should
| like to know, is to prevent her having changed
her mind"
| Jeremy laughed aloud it must be admitted
rather insolently, and in a way calculated tc
irritate people of meeker mind than Mr.
| Plowden.
| "To any one, Mr.. Plowden, who has the
| privilege Of your acquaintance, and who alsC
knows Ernest Kershaw, your question would
seem absurd, You see, there are some people
between whom there can be no comparison
| 1t is not possible that after caring for Ernest
any woman could care for you;' and Jeremy
laughed again,
| Mr. Plowden's thick lips turned quite pale
the veinous cross upon his forehead throbbed
till Jeremy thought that it would burst and
his eyes shone with the concentrated light OF
hate. His vanity was his weakest point II,
controlled himself with an effort, however
though if there had been any deadly weapon
at hand it might have gone hard with Jeremy.
"Perhaps you will explain the meaning Of
your interference and your insolence, and LEI
me go on
"Oh, with pleasure" answered Jeremy
with refreshing cheerfGlness at is just this
if catch you at any such tricks again, you
shall suffer for it, One can't thrash clergy
man, and one can't fight him, because he
won't fight but look here, one can shake him
for that leaves no marks, and if you 60 on
with these games, so sure as my name il
Jeremy Jones, will shake your teeth down
your throat Good nightn and Jeremy